Ciaran's Point of View
We barely had two days to prepare for his arrival. Two days in which I knew my mind would wander in every direction possible. Going into open war with Half-Moon would entice the royals to finally show face.
They had never kept it secret that they pined for Eiecrunt's vast resources. A little rogue had built himself up in a small time frame. Somehow, they perceived it as a threat. Making us an A-class pack was just their way of enticing other packs to attack us. Dwindle down our man power so that they could swoop in and secure everything for themselves.
What made this worse was knowing why we were going to war. Alvara. Eugene had gotten the biggest piece of the pie for years now. He had secured himself the only living member of the Lover's Quarrel Alpha bloodline. The only person who could inherit the wealth of those fucking diamond mines.
With her out of the way, the only person who could take those min
Ozias' Point of View Ciaran had crossed a line. Expecting Alvara to be anything like Savanah was outrageous. They might have been twins but they were still individual people. Lead extremely different lives. Savanah had know about Alvara her entire life. Never had someone coerce her into mating with them. Wasn't a bargaining chip for money. Savanah was never physically abused by someone she loved. All of these things changed people. For better or for worse. In Alvara's case, it had made her stronger. She had found a back bone and fire. Savanah had a flicker of the same fire but was more soft hearted. At the end of the day, they were both unique in their own right. Strong in their own capacities. Tears rolled down Alvara's cheeks, dampening my chest in the process. Every now and again, she gulped down breath. Not once did I hear a sound from her, other than her breathing. Her form shook with sadness. All I could do was witness her pain
Ciaran's Point of View She was my mate. Living not dead. And I wanted to keep it that way. Getting revenge on Eugene wasn't my priority. Making sure he could never harm her again was. Even if she wished to speak with him. Even if she still loved him. Keeping him alive was a bad decision. One she would regret later on. Speeding through the house, I ended up in my office. Books lined the right side of the room. One couch sat in front of the shelves. Her couch. She would sit there for hours, reading me the books she and Ozias were discussing that week. When the same tired position grew uncomfortable, she would prop her legs up on the back rest, head dangling to the floor. Hours would pass with her just reading me the most interesting tales. Origins of Snow White. How the Han dynasty ended. The greatest king of Egypt. She would get lost in their worlds. I would get lost in mine. When the moon was high, she would sit upright once more. A
Alvara's Point of View The lake was breathtaking. With the moon high in the sky and the stars glittering behind it. Slices of light danced atop the water, a cool breeze creating small waves lapping at the shore. Peddles traced the outline of the water. Smoothed and rounded with time. This was an untouched place. Somewhere you came when the world got too overwhelming. I stole a glance back at Ozias. He was watching me keenly. How many times had he escaped here before? Had they brought Savanah here when her mind was troubled? Thinking of my sister now was a tragedy. Nothing else resonated inside me except for jealousy. She had Ciaran wrapped around her finger and she was deceased. Made Maverick sad every time he spoke of her. I knew about the X-Box Dargan had that was solely hers. She had this wonderful life before me. It made me a horrible person to think such things when she was dead and I was now here. I swallowed down my fe
Ozias' Point of View Her eyes had glittered in the moonlight. Devils danced within her smile. I could feel her nipples stiffen between us. Hear how her small moans rippled across her throat as my tongue danced lower down her neck. Fluently, I grabbed her ass and wrapped her legs around me. The tip of my cock brushed her inner thigh and Alvara gasped. Finger nails broke the skin on my back, letting small droplets of blood mix in with the water. Hitching her up on my stomach, I lowered my mouth over her nipple. Alvara arched her breasts into my mouth. Slow circles toyed over the hardened peaks. Slithering her hands up, she folded her fingers into my hair and tugged at the strands. Circles became sucking. Low moans rushed through her lips. Her cunt grinded into my stomach, urging for more. Without breaking my pace, I walked out of the lake. Water rippled around us. Alvara leaned her mouth to my ear and nibbled the lobe. Lust swarmed my
Dargan's Point of View Ciaran was already waiting for us with breakfast. He never cooked. Except when he felt like an asshole. Last night's screaming match still rang fresh inside my ears. Unlike Maverick, I hated conflict reminded me too much of my parents when the liquor ran out. Maverick had joined in on the fuss. I refused to pay it any attention. Add in the looming meeting with Eugene and you had a recipe for disaster within my mind. Alvara came first but Ozias had taken care of her for the evening. Showing her the lake was a wise choice. It was serene. Peaceful. Hopefully he had calmed her down. Spoken to her about how Ciaran acted out when he was put under pressure. "Good morning." Maverick chirped at Ciaran. The Alpha waved a spatula at us, continuing with his eggs. There was another reason why he didn't always cook. His food wasn't un-edible. Just not culinary masterpieces. He had grown up in a house that believed men weren'
Dargan's Point of View Tension circled us as we walked home. Ozias kept his distance from Alvara, barely glancing her way as we trudged through the forest. My white shirt tugged tightly across her chest, just covering her naked sex. Their scents no longer merged together. Unlike when I had found them, I couldn't distinguish between his and hers. So, they hadn't fully mated. Only fucked each other. Ciaran wouldn't mind the latter. But we had agreed upon mating with her as a unit. As barbaric as it might have sounded, it had worked with Savanah. It gave each of us an edge. Yet made us all equal. 'We hadn't spoken to her about it. Maybe it was time.' Ozias' shoulders slumped a bit more when the house finally came into view. I squared mine and halted. "He made breakfast and seems to be in a fragile state. So, if I were you, I would just not tell him what had happened just yet." "Like I said, it wasn't what it looked like
Alvara's Point of ViewCiaran dragged me off to the side. No one took a second look as we exited the kitchen. With strong fingers, he lead me somewhere deeper inside the house. Paintings an art became more scarce this side and the black became darker. Moodier. We were well past his office. Well past any place I had come to know so well.Finally we stopped in front of a door. It was on the complete opposite side of the house from the library. Silver hardware framed the door. Along with swirls of silver on the surface. Almost as if the door wanted to tell us a story.A shaky hand reached for the knob and shoved it open. Sunlight streamed in from the vast windows on the other side. Crystal chandeliers hung neatly in a row at the top. Four of them. The floor was black and white marble. Walls were a muted grey with an opalescence to it.Paintings hung on the side walls. Every inch covered in them. Easels sat haphazardly across the roo
Ciaran's Point of ViewWe were huddled over several maps of the area. Maverick's brow scrunched in concentration. Dargan noting key areas of attack. Ozias planning escape routes. Through it all, she sat on the couch closest to the window.Red satin flowed over her legs that were tightly tucked beneath her. In her hands an old book that Ozias had recommended. Soft curls ran down her neck as she inspected every page keenly. Gone was the white shirt and lust in her eyes. Instead, content swarmed her.On the inside I knew she was an utter mess. Meeting with Eugene tomorrow would test all of our mental abilities. Especially after we had come to the conclusion that he had killed Savanah. Killed our one mate whilst fucking our other.I restrained a growl, eyes still taking her in. From behind her, the sun cast a halo around her head. Silver earrings mingled with her hair. Her stomach pouch stretched the middle part of her dress and I kn
Alvara’s Point of View “Aunty Adelia!” Aurelia screeched and ran to the front door. Adelia leaned against the frame, arms crossed over her chest, until she saw my daughter. Her face lit up like a thousand little lights. Her arms unfolded and reached forward. The little girl jumped full force into her. Nearly knocked her inside the house. Dargan came in behind me carrying the diaper bag. As he passed me, he kissed the side of my face. His wedding ring glinted in the afternoon sunlight. I swelled at the sight, still transfixed at the thought that I was a married woman. Married to the loves of my life. “My sweet girl!” Adelia exclaimed and threw Aurelia into the air. A giggle escaped the two-year old. Her dress puffed out around her. Hair fluttered in the wind. Dark golden blonde. Curly, like mine. The trees were a bright green. The grass neatly trimmed. Flowers bloomed all around us. Maverick was next to walk up. His hand settl
Alvara’s Point of ViewJessebelle stood at the edge of the fighting. Kept a close eye on all of her men. Guns fired in rapid succession. Wolves tore men limb from limb. Blood coated the grass. Between it all, Ciaran had a standoff with Eugene.Both sides landed blows. Bones crunched beneath their combined strength. Ozias had run after the Beta. Maverick shot whoever got closest and Dargan was still passed out cold.For a moment before Ciaran had arrived, I was sure I would be dead by the end of this. I was sure that I wouldn’t see the morning. Yet, Jessebelle had pulled through. Made sure that the odds were fatly stacked against Eugene. With however many reinforcements he called, he still wouldn’t win. Money drove him. Drove his pack, which wasn’t a good motivator. Love and freedom drove ours.Mason had gotten away in the chaos Harland caused. Got hold of Jessebelle and convinced her that we needed h
Maverick’s Point of ViewThe truck collided with the first of their cars. I lurched forward, gripping tightly onto the dashboard. My driver floored it. Scraped the road with their scrap metal. I braced as we hit another one. Men darted from their positions. Drew their guns and fired rapidly at the sides of the truck. Bullets peppered the steel but refused to go through. Thousands and thousands of rands were spent securing my people.The border patrol was thin tonight. Almost lax. According to Mason, we would have a hard time getting through, but this seemed almost too easy. Some of my men jumped from the rear. I heard their feet hit tar. Saw them run beside us. They opened fire. Some of Eugene’s men held up small flags with a diamond on it. I opened my window and craned my neck outside.“Don’t hurt the ones with the flags! They are on our side!” I screamed to my men. All of them nodded and proceeded to atta
Dargan's Point of ViewMy feet ached from the pace I was setting. I dodged trees. Cleared ditches. Lungs screamed for me to slow down. Air came in short supply. I had to take it easier. But I refused. It had been years since I ran with such ferocity. With so much intent and purpose, it nearly drove me mad.Alvara sounded far beyond distressed. Her voice had pitched and fallen. The fear was tangible in my mind still. She needed us and she needed us now. Everything we had endured led up to this moment. I would not let her have the same fate as Savanah. Let her die in a pack that hated her deeply. Die beside a man that had used her all her life.Those revelations set my mind blazing. My legs pumped harder. Drove me further. I could see the lights of houses in the distance. Slowing down, I sniffed the air. Picked up the scent of several enemies. I lightened my steps and avoided the trail where the scent was strongest.Two secon
Ciaran's Point of ViewMaverick nearly crawled out of his skin the moment Alvara left. Her mind link had shut between us. Locked us out of her thoughts. But I could feel every tremor of fear. Every quickening of her pulse. The panic she felt. Her small feeling of pride. Like she was still with us. Yet, none of us could reach her. Speak to her mentally. It drove us insane. Made us bite our nails and down glasses of whiskey. This was hell.Our minds remained open at all times. We had a plan but plans could change at any moment. Alvara had to be able to reach us at a moment's notice. Thus, we played riddles and made jokes through the mind link. To keep it sharp and make sure it was open even whilst we were sleeping.Ozias wouldn't stop pacing. Dargan smoked more than he had ever before. We weren't far from her. Maybe 80 kilometers, tops. Maverick and Dargan were closer. Harland camped out on a farm close to the edge of Half-Moon. We were w
Alvara's Point of View All the lights in the house were off when I woke up. Glowing moonlight sifted in from the open curtains. A cool breeze drifted over my bed. Yet I had woken up. No nightmares plagued me. No monsters hidden in shadows. My body had made peace with my surroundings, even if my mind was a bit slow to adjust. There wasn't a sound to be heard. Barely a cricket chirping. But I was awake and it was hell. Maybe two in the morning. I rolled onto my side and closed my eyes once more. Sleep danced at the edge of my mind and I rolled back onto my back. Then I heard it. The near-silent struggle in the room beside mine. Soft groans. Scraping of nails across flesh. Grunts of satisfaction. I covered my ears with a pillow. Eugene had a lady visitor over. As I had told Angelique, he would never change. I willed myself to sleep until I realized that Teagan's room was beside mine. Cold dread settled into my spine. Blind panic
Alvara's Point of ViewAs I had thought, Eugene never came to dinner. He had made paint swatches with Mariposa. We could all hear them laughing and bantering above us. Then, she had insisted they go out to eat. Something about having a craving met. So, that was exactly what they had done. Without so much as a whisper about spending too much money, they were off.If she had arrived before any of this had happened, I would have believed it when he told me she was just some woman he was helping. Clung to the idea that some part of him was still good inside instead of rotten and foul. Now, I knew better. Knew that she was his mate and I had been used for my money all these years.Stolen from my pack. Kept under lock and key because they couldn't find the keys to my family's kingdom. Somehow, after spending so much time with my own mates, I understood why he was so excited. Happy. She brought out the best in him as all mates would. But she w
Alvara's Point of View"You asked for me?" I said from the door. Eugene lifted his head, looking at me with a soft smile. He nodded and I stepped inside."Did you find everything you were looking for today?" A vague question. Very vague. It set me on edge enough that I lowered my gaze. Made my eyes appear larger than they actually were. Eugene put a hand out towards me and I took it when I got closer."I forgot how expensive everything was. I am sorry you had to spend money on me." I whispered back. Eugene kept that soft smile on his lips. Gently, he tugged me into his lap. I nuzzled into his neck, draping my legs over his.This was wrong. Utterly wrong. Being close to another man in such an intimate way hurt my heart. Every memory I had of my mates flashed into my mind, making my soul hurt even more. They were far away and I was inside the monster den with only Teagan to help me."Anything for you. I hate how we left thin
Alvara’s Point of ViewMason met us at the house. Unlike when I had first met him, he had a suit on. Sunglasses. Polished shoes. As if he had changed overnight. The young man I had come to know was gone. When Eugene greeted him, he simply gave a curt ‘Alpha’ and a bow of the head. Everything felt formal. Stuffy. As if the air had thickened in just a few seconds. Teagan looked between the two men and shrugged when I looked at her.I had personally asked for Mason, but it still didn’t mean that we were completely safe to wander around. The rest of the pack was still on Eugene’s side, and I had returned. Once an outsider, always an outsider. At least now I knew why they had stayed away.As for Lover’s Quarrel members, they had stayed away because Eugene had threatened them. Told them that if they interfered with me, they would lose their jobs or their lives. None of them would risk that. Until now.